R-E-S-P-E-C-T

So I wanted to just write a few thoughts on the election..and yes this will probably be different than what most people write about when talking about the election and no I am not going to include who I'm voting for. I get on facebook and all the time, people make their status as who they're voting for or something slanderous about the opposing candidate. I just don't think it's going to help anything to put your opinion out there that boldly! It's just going to cause disagreements and harsh feelings and it can completely be avoided! It's very similar to the topic of religion..If someone asks me, sure, I could talk forever and ever about what God has done for me and how I would love for them to accept this as well but I'm NEVER EVER EVER going to push my beliefs upon someone who doesn't want to hear them or try to push them into something they don't want to do. After all, this is a big reason I feel like alot of people reject religion in the first place.

Secondly, and probably the most disturbing topic I wanted to address. Yesterday, most people have heard (considering it was broadcast all over the national news as well as local) about the effigy hanging on our very own campus here at UK. I didn't see it (thank God) but from what I hear, it was a likeness of Senator Obama hanging in a tree. Do things like this happen to past democratic candidates that are white? Not generally! I think the amount of racist feelings, especially surrounding this election, are sickening. Here's what was worse though. Another effigy of Obama was found hanging at another school here in the US, this time in Oregon..I guess this was a few weeks ago. Where was it? George Fox University, a school that the KY Kernel reports is a small CHRISTIAN school. Yep, that's right. That makes me sick! That's the type of witness some Christians want the world to see? Really? No wonder many people reject the name of Christ when this is the type of people and things supporting the idea. I actually saw this on a facebook bumper sticker once but it really had a great message. It was a quote by Ghandi that said "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike Christ." That completely explains what I'm trying to say here. Alot of times, I wonder why Jesus even allows us to be the symbol of His name to the world. Because sometimes, we fail miserably. And some apparently don't even think about their witness at all. I'm not perfect by any standards, but I feel like I know enough about simple right and wrong to know that these acts are WRONG!

So, I know many people will probably disagree with me on this. There's ALOT of hate in our world today. And this just really gets me fired up so this might sound more harsh than I mean it to. But, I just feel like...No matter who you're going to vote for next week, can't we show simple signs of human kindness instead of resorting to savagery? As humans, we all deserve a kind of simple respect. And as Christians, we are called to something even higher. Will we respond to the calling?

I wanna be in the light

So this weekend was one of my favorite weekends I've had thus far in my 20 years on this earth (yeah, 20! Wow..still feels weird to say it..) Anyway, we had a fun girls (and Sarah's dad) day at the orchard and then carved Hawk pumpkins! The next day we saw Hawk and it was a total blast! (I don't know why I'm telling this...those of you that read this already know all this.) ANYWAY!! To my main point...

Saturday afternoon we went to a church down the road from the orchard and pumpkin farm to actually buy pumpkins. They were way cheaper there than at the actual pumpkin farm so we thought, heck why not! Who can pass up $2 pumpkins? Anyway...We picked out our pumpkins and were on our way. When we were leaving the church parking lot, we saw one of the coolest signs I've ever seen in my life. This sign was at the end of the drive out of the church before you went back onto the "main" road:

How great of a testimony is that! I know so many people (and sometimes I even get stuck in this rut) that just go to church for a social gathering. They dress up in their nice clothes and go to impress everyone else there with their "faith" and what they've done the previous week for the Lord. This isn't how church is supposed to be at all, however! Some people need to be clued in on this fact, because apparently they haven't heard! Church is supposed to be the place where we can worship our Jesus and be spiritually energized and recharged from being out in the "secular world" for the week. It's even supposed to be the place we bring those who are interested in the joy and hope that we have and to help them get this relationship with Christ that we have! We are spiritually fed and encouraged at church by those who believe the same way we do. Then, when the service is over, we all go our separate ways. This is when the true meaning of being a Christian begins. We are supposed to go out and spread the word of God to all the nations! We are supposed to love those who are hard to love and share what he's done for us with our friends and loved ones. Church isn't a place that's supposed to make us feel better about how Christian we are. It's a place that trains us and equips us with the tools we need to share the most important fact ever with the unbelieving world..that Jesus had come to save and that he is ready and waiting to accept anyone willing to have a relationship with him into his Eternal Kingdom!!! Church is the place where we get our training, kind of like boot camp in the army. We get all the tools and information we need. When we leave, that is like going into the battle. We battle against sin and temptation and we share with those what God has done with us. If only more people knew this and felt this way, more people may be drawn to church and not be scared off by those who call themselves "Christians" but don't live it by their lifestyle.

One In A Million

So one of the main places I find out about cool music is from friends...And Sarah Pocket Spice just happened to share this artist with me the other day and we listened to him some in the car. She actually just recently wrote a blog about his songs..they have uplifting lyrics that make you think but they're also put to a fun beat which always makes things better. He goes by Lecrae and I really like his stuff the more I listen to it!

Anyway, one particular lyric from a song off his new album made me think. It's a preacher talking in the background and you don't always catch it if you're not listening closely. In fact, I was just groovin' along to it and Sarah had to tell me what it had said! I'm glad she pointed it out to me! Here's what it said:

"You're just a conformist if you're drunk and naked driving around on the back of a motorcycle smoking cigarettes and breaking commandments. Everyone's doing that, it's so tired. If you really wanna be a rebel, read your Bible, cause no one's doing that. That's rebellion, that's the only rebellion left."

That just really hit me! That's exactly right. I used to be a part of that scene..or at least I thought I was. But now I just realize I was too afraid to be a rebel and stand out of the crowd. I still have alot of friends who think it's cool or going to "solve all their problems" to go out drinking on the weekends. Your boyfriend breaks up with you? Get drunk this weekend. You get a bad grade on a test? Let's have a party to drink our cares away. Your parents are being hard on you? Alcohol will solve all your problems. I listen to some of my friends and my peers and I just feel really sad for them! This is all that you have to hope for to fill that void in your heart?

Alot of these people are all the same..they look at you like an outcast if you don't drink or "party" on the weekends. It's SO easy to go along with the crowd and do that kind of thing, especially if you're the only one not doing it. It takes work, HARD work to say no to those temptations if that's all you surround yourself with.

Only recently have I been able to see has God worked a miracle in me through friends, through music, through so many special people and events...I now have the courage to be a rebel for him, to do something that not everyone else is doing. Am I going to be looked at as weird? Definitely! In fact I have been many times. But am I going to be richly rewarded for it in spending eternity with my heavenly Father who cares for me like no other? Absolutely. And I thank him every day for His grace greater than all my sins.

Wake me up when September ends...

So today begins a new month!! In fact, one of my FAVORITE months of the year! I really just felt like blogging to tell about some of the things I'm really excited for this month..if anyone cares at all to hear about them :)

1. COOLER WEATHER -- I'm sooo ready for hats, scarves, coats, boots..all that good stuff. I love layering. Lots of fun :)
2. My Birthday!!! On the 11th, I'm no longer going to be a teenager. Crazy! So much has happened in my short life and I've gotten to experience so many things in the little time I've been here on this earth. I'm ridiculously thankful for all the things God has brought me through and I'm really happy with where I'm at right now for the first time in a long time. Totally besides the point of my birthday but a random side note...
3. Big blue MADNESS!! For those of you not from KY or if you are from KY and have been hiding under a rock..I'll explain it to you :) Madness is the first official practice the UK basketball team has for the new season. This past week, people camped out..some for about a whole week..just to receive tickets for this game. YES, I said camped out just to watch the team practice. It's amazing how fanatical people are about their sports here! As long as it doesn't come before God (which, with some people it does) I LOVE it! UK is definitely a special place :) And I'm happy that I have good enough friends to do all the dirty work for me and camp out then give me a 3rd row seat to come share in the fun!!
4. Birthday dinner! Basically just a fun hangout chill dinner for me to see as many of my loves as possible for my birthday!! It's gonna be a blast I hope :) A good chance to get everyone together.
5. UK-South Carolina Game - There are few birthday presents better than having football happenin' on my actual birthday! Let's just hope we come out with a win...which we totally will :)
6. GIRLS WEEKEND/HAWK SHOW - Hangin out with my girls is ALWAYS a good time...the mall, the Ville, potential trolley car rides?, out to eat, slumber party..what could be better?! THEN, the fun continues the next day when we see one of our favorite bands in the WORLD. I love those guys more than words can describe and they have blessed my life in so many ways they will never even know. I LOVE THEM! That just about sums it up...
7. Halloween! Always a good time pretending to be a kid again and eating lots of candy and dressing up...Oh heck yes!

And I guess that's about it...But how much more fun could this month get?! Lookin' forward to more fun for the rest of the year as well...more football games (more sittin' in the press box and talkin' it up with athletes at the press conference), Thanksgiving, more REVOLVING!, Christmas, New Years Fun in Virginia with who other than my favorite girls and HAWK! And more and more and more...I am so blessed and thankful for all I've been given! I'm loving my life right now and I can't wait to see where God takes me from here!